Keith Pompey

Inquirer Staff Writer

The Mid-American Conference is fully expecting Temple football to leave for the Big East Conference, several MAC sources said.

“With strong certainty, a move is imminent,” a source said Tuesday. “The MAC was working on the buyout clause this weekend.

“It’s a move that absolutely is going to happen. I’m telling you man, it is happening.”

The Big East presidents could vote Wednesday on Temple’s membership in the conference at a regularly scheduled meeting in New York.

According to a Big East source, the Owls are on the agenda “as a possible vote on a new member” to join the league in 2012. That would take care of urgent football-schedule needs for the conference. The Big East needs an eighth football member for next season, because West Virginia left for the Big 12.

“It’s going to happen,” another MAC source said. “Their release has been put in motion.”

If Temple joins the Big East for all sports, it remains unclear if or when the rest of the teams will join the league. Temple is a member of the Atlantic Ten Conference for all sports besides football.

The MAC has a $2.5 million fee for an exit with two years’ notice. According to reports, the Owls might have to pay $3.5 million to leave sooner.

Should Temple get an invite to join the Big East for all sports, it would have to pay a $1 million exit fee to leave the Atlantic Ten with one year’s notice. The exit fee would be $2 million if the Owls leave the conference in less than a year’s notice.